Approvals for dummies — A beginners guide to getting your pool approved.
Are you considering putting in a pool but have no idea where to start? I get it! The process can seem hideously overwhelming – I mean, how the heck are you gonna get that tired and overgrown yard transformed into a gorgeous oasis you’ve been dreaming of all these years?
We don’t spend too much time talking about the stuff before we dig. Mainly because there’s not a lot of pretty pictures to accompany the conversation. And outside of actually designing your pool and surrounds – it’s a pretty dry area.
But let me break it down for you. You absolutely can’t just pop a pool in without gaining some sort of approval. And they come in two types, Complying Development or CDC (private certifier) and Development Applicant, more commonly referred to as a DA (council).
The beauty of a CDC is avoiding council. A private certifier in most cases can assess and approve a pool (if compliant) in under two weeks - compared to around three months in Council (give or take, depending on the local council).
Here’s a few tips to consider when assessing your block for Complying Development.
Don’t listen to the blokes. Size does matter. Where CDC is concerned, your available landscaping is based upon your block size. The bigger the block, the more you’ll need.
What you’ve got out the front is also just as important as the back. Your block width dictates how much landscaping you’ll need out the front. And to keep things confusing, of the total landscaping required, 50% of this will need to be out the back.
Zoning is important. Certain zones allow for CDC, others send you straight to council.
Sydney water approval is always required. But if you’re building close to a sewer, or even over the top then you’ll need to engage a water servicing coordinator. It’s an extra step in the process but one that is relatively straight forward.
If you’ve got a fancy native to Australia tree then you’ll want to keep your pool more than 3m away from it.
And no, this is not designed to confuse you even more- i just want to get you thinking. Here at Cronulla Pools, we look after the design and approval process for you, so all you need to do is get in touch and we’ll manage the rest.
We’d love to take a look at your block, to organise a site inspection give us a call today.
Source: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/EPI/2008/572
